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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #170768
Title: INITIAL THOUGHTS AND RESULTS ON THE USE OF MULTI-ANTIGEN PRINT IMMUNOASSAY IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND MONITORING OF THERAPY OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS IN CAPTIVE ELEPHANTS ELEPHANT RESEARCH MEETING, FORT WORTH, TX 12/1/04

Author
item BALL, RAY - BUSCH GARDENS, FL
item LYASHCHENKO, KONSTANTIN - CHEMBIO
item Waters, Wade
item OLSEN, JOHN - BUSCH GARDENS, FL
item DUMONCEAUX, GENNY - BUSCH GARDENS, FL
item BURTON, MIKE - BUSCH GARDENS, FL
item RICHARD, MICHAEL - ALBUQUERQUE BIOL.PARK

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2004
Publication Date: 12/1/2004
Citation: Ball, R.L., Lyashchenko, K.P., Waters, W.R., Olsen, J.H., Dumonceaux, G., Burton, M., Richard, M.J. 2004. Initial thoughts and results on the use of multi-antigen print immunoassay in the diagnosis and monitoring of therapy of mycobacterium tuberculosis in captive elephants [abstract]. Elephant Research Meeting. pg. 25.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The National Tuberculosis Working Group for Zoo and Wildlife Species has been monitoring TB in elephants since 1996. The current standard for diagnosis of tuberculosis in elephants is culture from a trunk wash or other suspected source of infection. Ancillary diagnostics are in development stages. Enzyme linked immunoassays (ELISA) have shown to have some promise but have limitations in sensitivity and specificity. Recently, a multi-antigen print immunoassay (MAPIA) has been utilized in a couple of cases of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). Two female Asian elephants with culture confirmed Mtb had the infection detected years prior to culture results when examined retrospectively. The MAPIA exam detected seropositivity about one year prior to the existing ELISA test. A change in the antigen profile was also seen in both elephants that corresponded to a response to anti-tuberculocidal therapy. This change in antigen profile had parallels to humans on anti-tuberculocidal therapy. The MAPIA appears to be more sensitive than existing ELISA designed for detection of TB in elephants and may have some use in monitoring therapy.